US court blocks strict new immigration law in Texas - BBC News

The law gives Texas sweeping powers and the case goes to an appeals court on Wednesday.

3 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, SB4 would give police officers in Texas broad powers to arrest migrantsBy Bernd Debusmann JrBBC News, WashingtonA court has frozen Texas's controversial immigration law, one of the toughest of its kind, in a case being closely watched across the US.

The legislation would allow officials in Texas to detain and prosecute anyone they think has entered the country illegally, superseding federal powers.

The law briefly came into force on Tuesday for a few hours during a legal back and forth between courts.

On Wednesday the US appeals court will hear the case.

The SB4 law in Texas was due to come into effect on 5 March but President Joe Biden's administration challenged it on the grounds that immigrant detention should remain in their hands.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68613083

---